As they cut Austin ISD’s budget over the last two years, district leaders stressed again and again that they wanted to avoid cuts that would affect classrooms – those that would eliminate teachers and increase class sizes. But the budget crisis has proven too deep and wide. A year ago, the budget deficit was $60 million. After repeated cuts and an infusion of new tax dollars, it now sits at $110 million. So last week, district leaders announced they are examining cuts that would not only affect, but eliminate, classrooms. They are considering closing and consolidating schools.
The idea was framed in a March 27 presentation to the board of trustees by Greg Gibson, a consultant who helps school districts improve efficiency. Gibson told the trustees AISD has smaller schools than comparably sized districts. He identified 49 elementary schools with fewer than 500 students and 10 middle schools with fewer than 750 students. He calculated that if the district were to close and consolidate these smaller schools it could save about $1,700 per student, or $43.6 million per year.
Gibson’s audit did not name the smaller schools. A district spokesperson told the Chronicle a list of schools that could be closed has not yet been compiled.
“We know our students aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet,” the spokesperson said, “but what this audit tells us is that this is a high cost-savings opportunity to seriously consider. So we’re taking that and will create a tool with our community to evaluate which schools could be consolidated. This will be a months-long process, so we’re just now starting the conversation.”
Superintendent Matias Segura emphasized at the meeting that only some of the 59 schools could be closed. Responding to a question from trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu, he said the district is looking at closing about 14 schools currently.
“That’s not a realistic savings.” – Austin ISD Trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu
Whitley Chu, a former teacher, was dubious that closing schools would save money. She pointed out that the audit made broad assumptions – for example, that student enrollment wouldn’t decrease after school consolidations, which would reduce district funding – and said she hadn’t heard of any actual cost savings realized from AISD’s last school consolidation in 2019. “So this $43.6 million number, that’s not a realistic savings,” she said.
Trustee Candace Hunter, another former teacher, spoke about the pain of AISD’s 2019 consolidations, which closed four elementary schools. “Schools are more than just buildings,” she said. “They are the heart of our neighborhoods, places where students, families, and educators make lasting connections. The loss of a school can affect how students feel about themselves and their community.” However, Hunter also said the consolidation process couldn’t be avoided. She stressed it must be done “the right way,” with open communication and cooperation with the affected communities.
With the school consolidation discussion concluded, the district’s CFO, Katrina Montgomery, updated the trustees on the deficit. She presented data showing AISD is just one of many districts across the state contemplating school consolidation, including districts in El Paso, Fort Worth, and Aldine. She said the district has already cut $30 million from the current school year’s budget but needs to cut another $32 million to maintain its financial rating. And she pointed out that though Texas politicians are considering a statewide increase in public school funding at this year’s legislative session, AISD’s projections don’t assume new funding is coming.
“In previous years, we budgeted [by] including state funding,” Montgomery said. “We’re not doing that this year until our superintendent says [a bill] is ready to be signed, the pen is wet, and we’re ready to go.”
It’s an understandable approach, considering the 2023 legislative session. Then, Republican leaders had agreed to provide $5 billion to public schools but tacked on Gov. Greg Abbott’s school voucher proposal at the last second, something Democrats and rural Republicans could not approve. Neither side budged and public schools wound up getting no new money.
This session, the same leaders are offering about $7.5 billion for public education but are again pushing hard for the approval of vouchers. And, as in the last session, the Texas House of Representatives is disagreeing with the Senate about how to address the statewide funding crisis. Some observers are beginning to worry that schools will be stiffed again.
“The Senate is not even close to the House when it comes to school funding,” Chandra Villanueva of school advocates Every Texan told us. “It could totally end up in a stalemate. And the governor is not going to call us back for a special session over school funding, especially if he gets his voucher bill.”
This article appears in April 4 • 2025.
